Parents play a critical role in helping their children have a smooth transition from one phase to another in their education journey (Primary 1 / Primary 5 to 6 / Secondary School / Upper Secondary).

The Ministry of Education advises parents to build a caring home environment to nurture the social and emotional skills of your child through S.A.F.E. and recommends parents and children to spend time chatting using T.A.D.

The following can be applied according to the different transition phases your child is in.

S.A.F.E 

1. Support
   Encourage your child to make new friends.
   Help your child understand decisions made and actions taken. Share the reasons for them.
   Find our how your child’s preferences are changing. Show interest by asking open-ended questions.
   Let your teen be alone if he / she does not feel like doing anything together with you, but be available when he / she needs you.
2. Affirm  
   Recognise small successes and praise your child’s efforts regularly.
   Remember your child’s strengths and build his / her self-esteem in those areas.
   Be sensitive to your teen’s preferences.
3. Familiarise
   Do practical things to ease your child into new routines.
   Share information on physical changes during puberty.
   Excite him / her about new experiences secondary school students can have.
   Find out what post-secondary institutions have in store for students these days. Make informed decisions together.
4. Emphatise
   Acknowledge your child’s emotions.
   Teach with less talk and more role-modelling.
   Encourage your child to share thoughts and feelings about the new school.
   Respond to your teen’s emotions without judging.

T.A.D. 

1. Talk
   About fond memories of your own school days.
   About things that friends might pressure him / her to do, which can be harmful.
   About different realities faced by teens these days compared to the past.
2. Ask
   About his / her thoughts and feelings about the school.
   About your child’s interests
   About his / her thoughts and feelings on the latest posts and discussions on social media and news.
3. Discuss
   What can be done if he / she has worries at school.
   Some acceptable boundaries with regards to the use of electronic devices.
   New boundaries as your teen displays greater maturity.

Start learning with your child as early as Primary 1!

Let us be part of your child’s education journey today! Do call us at 63415516 or email us at enquiry@superstarteacher.com if you have any questions.

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